Creating detailed and engaging maps is an essential part of game development, simulations and many other interactive applications.
Whether you’re defining complex terrain, designing urban scenarios or configuring intricate dungeons, choosing the right map editor can make all the difference in your workflow and the final quality of your project.
In this article, we explore 10 map editor options that stand out for their functionality, ease of use, and versatility.
Developed with a variety of programming languages, including C++, Haxe, TypeScript and Java, these editors offer powerful tools for designers and developers of all skill levels.
Additionally, as a special bonus, we present an extra option that may surprise you. Get ready to discover the best tools available to bring your maps to life and take your projects to a new level!
01. Tiled Map Editor
Tiled is a general purpose tile map editor.
It’s designed to be easy to use, yet flexible enough to work with a variety of game engines, whether your game is an RPG, a platform game, or a clone of Breakout.
Tiled is free software written in C++ with Qt and is available for Windows, macOS and GNU+Linux distributions.
Links to Tiled:
02. LDtk
LDtk (Level Designer Toolkit) is a modern, open source 2D level editor designed specifically for independent developers.
It was developed with the programming language Haxe and is only available for Windows.
Links to LDtk:
- https://deepnight.net/tools/ldtk-2d-level-editor/
- https://github.com/deepnight/ldtk
- https://ldtk.io/
03. OGMO Editor
OGMO Editor is a free, open source, project-driven level editor made for independent game developers by independent game developers.
In addition to using block layers to create levels from a set of blocks, use decal layers to freely position, scale, and rotate images to decorate your level, entity layers to place complex objects in your game, and grid layers to add metadata creatively at your level!
OGMO was also developed with the Haxe programming language and is available for Windows, macOS and GNU+Linux distributions gnulinux).
Links to OGMO Editor:
04. EasyRPG
EasyRPG Editor is a game editor for creating RPG style games.
It can import RPG Maker 2000 and 2003 games using liblcf to read RPG Maker game data.
EasyRPG was developed with the C++ programming language and is available for Windows, macOS and GNU+Linux distributions.
Links to OGMO Editor:
05. Tactile
Tactile is a tile map editor that aims to be simple, fast and lightweight.
It has a well-documented and high-quality source code.
Tactile was also developed with the C++ programming language and is available for Windows, macOS and GNU+Linux distributions.
Tactile GitHub repository:
06. Polished Map
Polished is yet another map and tileset editor for pokecrystal, pokered and projects based on them.
Polished Map is only available for Windows and GNU+Linux distributions .
It was written in C++ with FLTK
Links to the Polished Map:
07. PoryMap
PoryMap is a map editor for pokeemerald, pokefirered and pokeruby
PoryMap was developed with the C++ programming language and is available for Windows, macOS and GNU+Linux distributions.
Links to PoryMap:
08. InitialEditor
This is a web based map editor that allows you to edit maps from your own 2D game engine.
InitialEditor was developed with the programming language TypeScript and is available for any operating system that has a browser installed and compatible.
Links to InitialEditor:
09. Tilesetter
Tilesetter is a modern and elegant map editor that has many features.
Tilesetter was developed with the C++ programming language and is available for Windows, macOS and GNU+Linux distributions.
Links to Tilesetter:
- https://www.tilesetter.org/
- https://store.steampowered.com/app/1105890/Tilesetter/
- https://led.itch.io/tilesetter
10. MapForge
MapForge is map creation software from Battlegrounds Games. It was initially funded by a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign.
MapForge was developed with the C++ programming language and is only available for Windows and macOS.
Links to MapForge:
Bonus: GNUMan
GNUMan is a satirical clone of Pacman with a map editor using JavaFX.
It is free software, and defenders of the cause, even making explicit their admiration for the GNU Project and especially to Richard Stallman.
GNUMan was developed with the Java programming language and is available for any operating system.
GNUMan GitHub repository:
gamedev mapeditor cpp haxe java typescript
